Primer On Series – serie

Physicians who choose to serve in public-sector mental healthcare settings and physicians-in-training assigned to public-sector mental health clinics may not be fully prepared for the many roles of the public and community psychiatrist. Public and Community Psychiatry is a concise guide for the resident and early-career psychiatrist called upon to serve in the roles of public-sector clinician, team member, advocate, administrator, and academician. Each chapter includes a concise description of these various roles and responsibilities and offers engaging examples of the public psychiatrist at work, as well as case-based problems typical of those faced by the public psychiatrist. Each chapter also features works of art and literature, usually from the public domain, in order to incorporate the core strengths of medical humanities into the dialogue of public-sector mental healthcare. This book aims to provide a level of support to psychiatrists that fosters their desire, individually and collectively, to serve the poor and the marginalized with grit and determination, and to broadly consider their potential to improve not only their patients' well-being, but also these patients' incorporation into their respective communities.

Bipolar disorder is among the most common conditions affecting humankind and one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. It is a complex and dynamic psychiatric condition that makes it difficult to both understand and manage. However, with good management, people affected by bipolar disorder can lead very successful lives. This book was written specifically with new psychiatrists and mental health practitioners in mind to facilitate their ability to care for this condition. Chapters review clinical presentation and epidemiology, etiology and neurobiology, and treatment of bipolar disorder.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a serious, debilitating, life-shortening illness that affects many persons of all ages and backgrounds. The lifetime risk for MDD is 7-12% for men and 20-25% for women (Kessler et al., 2003). MDD is a disabling disorder that costs the U.S. over $200 billion per year in direct and indirect costs (Greenberg et al., 2015), and is the leading cause of disability worldwide (WHO, 2018). Depression also has detrimental effects on all aspects of social functioning (e.g., self-care, social role, and family life, including household, marital, kinship, and parental roles). While there have been several treatments that are efficacious, many individuals suffering from depression experience life-long challenges due to the chronic and episodic nature of the disease. Identifying strategies to find the right treatments for the right patients is critical. Ongoing research has explored the importance of examining physiologic biomarkers, as well as clinical characteristics to gain a better understanding of subtypes of depression, which will lead to improved treatments and better outcomes. This book provides an introduction to the etiology and pathophysiology of depression, common comorbidities and differential diagnoses, pharmacotherapy strategies, psychotherapeutic and neuromodulation interventions, novel and non-traditional treatment strategies, and considerations in special populations.